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Mobile Devices take on Environment of Care Rounds

Mobile devices are changing the way the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (VA TVHS) ensures that the environment is a safe and clean place for Veterans and VA staff members.

Until recently, environment of care (EOC) rounds involved reviewing long, detailed paper checklists that monitor everything from the proper storage of medical supplies, to the cleanliness of the water cooler tray, to ensuring stairways lights are working and sufficiently bright. Today, VA TVHS staff members utilize VA-issued tablets, loaded with EOC software, to make the rounding process more effective, efficient and economical.

"The mobile devices save staff at least a full hour of their daily work lives. They can upload surveys quickly, download them quickly, and the inspections are finished," said Jake Slivensky, who has been a Safety Manager at VA TVHS for the past 10 years.

For some VA staff, EOC rounds are just one of many tasks in their regular workflow. "I wear many hats, one of which is performing EOC rounds once per week," said Beverly Groogan, Women's Health Coordinator for VA TVHS. Her VA-issued mobile device frees up more of her time to focus on the 9,000+ female Veterans she serves in the Tennessee area.The VA TVHS is among 18 VA medical facilities to receive mobile devices through the VA Mobile Health Provider Program. In total, more than 7,000 VA providers and staff have begun incorporating mobile devices into their daily workflows. As the program continues to evolve, with soon to be released VA-developed mobile apps, so do the opportunities to integrate mobile technology to improve Veteran care.